peter cherry:
would love to try russia,has that mysterious feel about it.having said that i know some on here will tell me its a [zb].
If you have to use stars, dots or imaginative spelling to get a word past the auto censor, it isn’t allowed. Simon
When I started doing it, there were plenty of people ready to put me off the idea- ain’t that the way with everything- and although Russia can be difficult in many ways, I got into trucking because i loved travel and didn’t mind a bit of hardship.
Like you say, it has a mysterious feel to it. The first time I went there, I was stood at the border at Torfyanovka, at three o’clock in the morning, and it was exactly how I had imagined it. Watchtowers, barbed wire, cropped-eared guard dogs, soldiers with Kalashnikovs barking orders. Just like a James Bond film. And I thought “Cor, this is good!”
Although I personally have had enough of the place now (besides which, they wouldn’t have me back ) , I would say to anyone wanting to go for it, “go for it”
Whatever you typed before Simon moderated you, I’m sure I would agree that it is a Zebideedoodah though
peter cherry:
would love to try russia,has that mysterious feel about it.having said that I know some on here will tell me its a [zb].
If you have to use stars, dots or imaginative spelling to get a word past the auto censor, it isn’t allowed. Simon
I would love to go further East than the old Western block countries. Given the chance, I would, whatever anyone said.
I would be open to any useful advise though.
I have been up to the North of Scotland and Southern Ireland. Both of them where well worth the trip Jimti. If the chance comes, take it.
What ever you want to do, someone, somewhere will tell you its rubbish. Ask for advise. Listen to what people tell you and decide, on whatever criteria you want, which advise to follow.
When I was a kid, we drove down into Mexico, and I’ve always wanted to drive a rig down south of the border. Alas, I’ve never gotten further than Ciudad Juarez or San Ysidro.
I’ve also always wanted to drive the ice road over the Great slave Lake in Canada, on the road between Winnipeg and Yellowknife. The 600 mile long dirt roads to the Maniq hydro dam in Northern Quebec and the long dirt overland road to Labrador also sounds interesting…
the trip i’ve always wanted to do is more of a motorbike thing. i’d like to head north west to alaska, take a plain over to russia. keep going west, somehow hop the other ocean and then ride back to my front door.
First, the flies up in Alaska are awful, so that might make the trip kinda nasty.
Secondly-there are no flights from alaska to Russia. Besides, you’ll need to put your bike in a container for the 6+ week crossing to Vladivostok. Don’t forget-80 octane is the best gasoline you are likely to find in Siberia.
alex, this has actually been done. some british actor or possibly noble kind of guy did this on a bmw enduro. those bikes are made to be able to run on many kinds of fuel perfect for what i’d get in russia. what he did was drivefrom england to providenija russia and charter a plane to nome alaska. also, if it was easy, i wouldn’t want to do it. i’ve hiked the appalachian trail from maine to maryland and i’ve done a good bit of the pacific crest trail through california. i’ve also hopped on the rocks in southern utah. the point i’m making is the hardships of such a journey is what i’m looking for.
long way round ewan macgregor and charlie boorman london to new york.flew from magadan to anchoridge alaska no charter regular flight.before they did it michael palin full circle flew the other way again a regular flight alex if ya get chance get long way round on dvd what these guys did was extraordinary
bought a box of tampax once…always wanted to : ride a bike…swim…play tennis
i started trucking because i always wanted to travel…as a kid i used to buy what they called in those days a red rover it was a daily bus pass (dont take the ■■■■) but anyway i could travel all over london and the suburbs and often got myself lost…so when i started trucking i could do it…and get lost…and get paid for doing it so i would say that if theres somewhere you want to go…havnt been.or whatever,then go for it…treat it as a challenge…but it wont be easy today because there are not many brit company`s running so far…but maybe european ones…good luck
have a nice day
Carl:
id like to do the coast road from sydnry to darwin
Carl,
There ain’t one, not all the way anyway. Don’t forget to turn left at Townsville and then right at Tennant Creek
Unless of course you mean the other way round Now that would be a helluva trip. Even so you can’t stick to the coast unless things have changed drastically in the last 40 years.
jessicas dad:
i like France but i would have like to do Italy never been but looks nice…
il get abused now about the Italians and how bad it is but i would liked to have been to late now though.
Unless you are to old in the head mate, its never too late.
I do Italy a fair bit, and like it. Its a bit more expensive than France to eat. They tend to go for pasta (funnily enough), but the menu is varied enough for everyone to find something they like. The wine is good, and cheap. Bottled water costs more. The drivers have a unique style. The drops are as easy and difficult to find as they are anywhere else. The sun shines a lot in summer. You need to be mosquito proof, if you are anywhere near the Milan - Turin Autostrada. They grow rice, in paddy fields around there, so they grow mossies there too . The scenery is spectacular. The people are friendly, if you are and a pain in the neck, if you are. As with all countries, if you speak some of the language they are much more likely to try and help.
I would like to go back in time with all the modern day equipment needed
to capture all those moments where I have sat down and listened to
the long distance TIR drivers of those yesteryears oh what tales they did
tell of. as for where I would like to go it does not bother me as I take
every journey as a busmans holiday and if its Italy one day or Hungary
the next all and every one is for me exciteing and wonderful,
life is just one happy holiday and is being taken every where.
I’d rather do it on BMW F650; it’d make it easier!!
funny you should mention that. That’s the kind of bike i have. I don’t have much to compare it with. when i go to the hills, the guys there mostly have japanese dirt bikes. so i haven’t seen how the 1150s compare to mine.
jessicas dad:
i like France but i would have like to do Italy never been but looks nice…
il get abused now about the Italians and how bad it is but i would liked to have been to late now though.
Unless you are to old in the head mate, its never too late.
I do Italy a fair bit, and like it. Its a bit more expensive than France to eat. They tend to go for pasta (funnily enough), but the menu is varied enough for everyone to find something they like. The wine is good, and cheap. Bottled water costs more. The drivers have a unique style. The drops are as easy and difficult to find as they are anywhere else. The sun shines a lot in summer. You need to be mosquito proof, if you are anywhere near the Milan - Turin Autostrada. They grow rice, in paddy fields around there, so they grow mossies there too . The scenery is spectacular. The people are friendly, if you are and a pain in the neck, if you are. As with all countries, if you speak some of the language they are much more likely to try and help.
I like Italy.
just about sums italy up simon. its nice out of the big industrial cities, get up into the hills in the north and the people cant do enough for you. i was hunting for a drop in this tiny village(wrong address from office). a bloke in the local square saw me, took me ON THE BACK OF HIS MOPED to a local church, the nun there let me use her fone to ring sittams in pero who gave me the correct address! he then drove me back to my motor!! would that happen in watford?
oh how i yearn for the golden years long gone of european haulage
Now that would be a helluva trip. Even so you can’t stick to the coast unless things have changed drastically in the last 40 years.